Xala 1975

As the era of French colonial rule comes to a close in Senegal, the newly appointed members of the Senegalese Chamber of Commerce enthusiastically celebrate the election of their first Senegalese president. Outside the Chamber, vibrant singers and dancers add to the festive atmosphere while the newly inaugurated members take it upon themselves to discard French artifacts from their offices, pushing out the remaining French board members. Their influence, however, is not easily shaken; when the departing French return with suitcases full of cash for the Senegalese members, they are welcomed back, leading to a controversial exchange of power.

Among the new board members is El Hadji Abdoukader Beye, a Senegalese businessman played by Farba Sarr, who harnesses his newfound position to bolster his personal affairs. In an attempt to expand his influence and social standing, he decides to take on a third wife, a young woman from a beloved family, despite opposition from his first two wives. This act is seen as a testament to his success but brings unforeseen complications. On their wedding night, however, El Hadji faces a shocking reality—he finds himself unable to consummate the marriage due to impotence, leading him to suspect that his condition may be the result of supernatural forces stemming from his discontented wives.

His search for a solution leads him to seek counsel from local marabouts, engaging in rituals and charms to combat what he perceives as a curse on his masculinity. Despite having previously dismissed such traditional beliefs, desperation compels him to explore these avenues. His impotence eventually seems to reverse, courtesy of a marabout his driver recommended, but worries remain—he is informed that the curse, known as xala, could easily resurface. Compounding his plight is the unfortunate timing of his new wife’s menstrual cycle, further delaying the consummation of their marriage.

As personal troubles steadily mount, El Hadji’s businesses begin to flounder. Shipments fail to arrive, and financial institutions refuse to grant him loans. The revelation of his dubious actions—specifically, selling the national grain reserves to a Moorish merchant—has severely tarnished the reputation of the Chamber of Commerce board. In a meeting intended to address El Hadji’s misconduct, he does not shy away from admitting his corruption, instead shifting blame to his fellow board members, whom he claims are equally dishonest. Ultimately, he is ousted, replaced by a former pickpocket with a notorious history.

Stripped of his business and assets, El Hadji finds himself at the mercy of the state, which has seized his possessions due to his fraudulent dealings. Meanwhile, the same marabout who once alleviated his impotence returns, reminding him that the very ailment he overcame could easily recur. With nowhere else to turn, El Hadji reluctantly returns to the home of his first wife, only to discover that his second wife has fled and his third wife’s family has rescinded their wedding gifts.

Haunted by the news of his regained impotence, El Hadji encounters a blind beggar on the streets who had previously been expelled from his business premises. This beggar claims to possess the ability to lift El Hadji’s affliction by exposing him to his own humiliation, demanding that El Hadji stand naked among a group of beggars and allow them to spit on him. In a desperate bid to rid himself of the alleged curse, El Hadji finds himself forced to accept this undignified penance, fully aware that his journey is both a reflection of his failures and a path toward the redemption he seeks.